The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-25

A CORNER OF THE T0MBS.
GHAsTIy RELrCs OF CRIME STORED
nv an 0LD CABLNHE
Curious Msdauas Th~e.sh whieh Prisoners
| Have sought Deeth-,The Ceatrabutseas
From eaiiews-Fsonas OF the Prissasrs.
On the northeast corner Of the big, dreary
Tombs building there II little square nook
that is known as the Warden's private oftlce.
It 10 40 gloomy 80 any OF the cells In the heart
OF tho building, and every effort to mako It
wear business look 10 failure. The big
window that lights It 10 shielded with iron bars
and darkened by creeping vines and bushos
A rusty desk in one corner 10 usually covered
with dust and ornamented With big keys. Are
| volving chair stands before II and creaks for
| biddingly on tho rare occasions when Il 10 occu-
pied. Just behind the chair 10 little table with
drawers, and underneath those arc two square
wooden boxes. Both the drawers and the
boxes are nlled with clasp knives taken from
prisoners and never called for The owner Of
any one Of them may appear, and then ell he
has to do is to furnish Clerk noden with an
accurate description Of his knifo and wait until
Ii is found. This is frequently o lengthy Job,
but II 10 useful In its way for Il dislodges
certain amount Of dust But very small por-
ton Of those knives are ever called for.
These tokens OF prison life are carefully con-
cealed from visitors, but on the other side Of
| the room. standing stiff and prim against the
wall. is glass showcase that discloses many
ghastly curiosities. This is asort OF private
museum that has been growing for years, and,
unlike tho articles found in any public mu-
scum, the story that makes them worth pro.
serving had its. ending. Mt least, within the
stone walls Of the building that holds them.
Hero II rusty hook and a bit Of rope that bore
the weight of suicide. portion Of . gallows
| that sent some murderer TO his last account; q
| knife nioked into saw by o desperate prts.
onor planning an escape; rusty pick locks and
thieSes : rapiers. swords, and bayonets that
proved valuable. II silent. Witnesses In cases Of
assault; several links Of rusty chain that told
hands and feet q prisoners suffering from de-.
lirium tremens; time. stained teleErams from
CONDEMNED murderers; bottles Of poison and
Of murder. assault, or suicide,
Every article f. thS case tolls different tale
WITH blood. severed the veins ia the wrist Of 4
drink ;crazed man the knife on which scales
man soldier. suffering from the want Of the
IL hSps q sD' IN
| the attempt was lodged In prison; 9 melan-
shoS sSqth T. Dss0P e. T,S .Sa,
rope: 2 forger. who had used his brains to rob
bis fellow men. had tried TO cheat the law by
he drank too much an and is now Ia Sing Sing;
another educated man. also q forger, tried to
s n naH n fsP h b s Ss r RSSSn az
yellow label, but bis attempt was ALSO unsuc.
d. IL 81 tSsr eoSss
adopted COARSE and violent means to end their
lives. but men Of refinement depended solely
ugh Tifs sfsd ewer in field Of weeds, or bright
brass button on faded coat. q daguerreotype.
al sHRpsy cs Ths ss
black @oustaShe. : Slesr pointing HlH,wsrdd
S ana nus
IT, ana Who was S for sers 1 By the
ether ess Ct r. &, yh S%bs flight
each article In the case its history. but this was
shsn that which Is written on the mind Of CLERK
sfH sHa x 'n IL Hnes
SSis E. IL SsSsa Sh ss
3 hang Pi.tss bsibc tSs mSsasEss q KS ssi
sna Elm Rs
sns a. Ssn tn m
etrument with which Porcello the italian muir
ss K sSa% 81 sS sndr.
found In his cell a knife that holds an honored
Clerk Roden. He promised to come back to
@ dss the
%aE o IN ana M
Ing his comrade. When the latter awoke IN
from az, hoeS IN tae wall The hook and rope
william Alien. who Was also thief. ''''0' u
mi "a r. Fs%Ss 81 ssSs
knife d run through every article Of food be-
to IL TaS ss ss
s IL, MIN tie ss 'h1oe
handled clasp knife with . saw, In the handle
al hopps Nss Ss Shssn.
lows ssassd him II he face sais message,
Nov e. yss. ,s tn: :ss.s, a.
IL to take place daylight ID TO follow
night Even the notorious Howe cannot save you from
the galows. Il. TT
The pleasant message never reached Cox,
but was kept by the Warden.
That some OF the prisoners IN the Tombs
SAMPLES Of their WorE thst we're found IN tbeir
cells after their conviction. Edward Darling
ton. who IL sentenced to nine years for for
gerry. was credited with being the author, Of
four-versed poem that is considered worthy OF
preservation. Here 6To the first three verses:
Preachers tell US mans coward
should he seek to take his life,
1houkh he II by Grief devoured,
Though he's conquered In the strife.
this IL so. who blame him
When his heart 10 racked with pain
1YTants those who would reclaim him
To his misery again
Coward rather he who bears H.
LINGERING with Rasplng breath;
Making crown OF thorns to wear II,
ShuddernR yet at death.
j. A. Wells. who was sentenced to 10 years
for the larceny OF g. 700. wrote these lines and